Hello From Kuala Lumpur (actually Angola Currently)

[Eoin Christie]

Hi, everyone. I'm based in KL, but am over in Angola at the moment. After multiple time-outs, I'm returning to the bike - this time being an Enfield Interceptor, which is hopefully wending its wicked way to KL as I type.
I have a few bikes down in Perth, but haven't had the opportunity to ride them for years. I'm very much looking forward to bringing some 2-wheeled sanity back into my life.
Upon my return to KL late September, I'll run-in the Interceptor, and then head up via Sungai Golok / Mae Sot / Lampang (family) / Chiang Mai / Chiangrai / Chiang Khong to start a Northern Laos voyage. I first went to Laos (not quite kosha) back in 1986, crossing over at Pakchom (see photo's below). I've been back several times over the years, but buses rather than bikes provided the transport.
These days I like to carry (I'm not sure that I like the actual 'carrying' part) a 4x5" large format film camera, which is slow, just like me. I'm looking forward to hauling it around from Xiengkok to Xam Neua, with a focus on the ordinary.
I am very appreciative of the information that is generated from the GTR members, and particularly the ongoing updates of ever-changing situations. I hope to contribute in my own small way.
One of the things that pushed me over to return to my long-lost love was a trip I did earlier this year with my daughter (another film photographer), where we did a loop around the Far North of Vietnam on a rented XR150 (2-up), which gave me a chance to show her how to use a 4x5" field camera (some photo's below). That freedom was an intravenous injection to my core being, and left me with a hankering for more.
The Interceptor is not the ideal bike for such excursions, but it is somehow ideal for me. Practicality was never my strong suite...
Laos 1986:

B010 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr[/URL]

A004 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A002 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A021 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

Vietnam 2019:

A001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

F1000003 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A003 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

B001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

C005 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A004 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

D002 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

B001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A002 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

C001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

 

[Ian Bungy]

Wow. Impressive Photos!

 

[Eoin Christie]

Wow. Impressive Photos!

Thanks, Ian. I had great passion for bikes and photography in the 70’s and 80’s, then gave both away as other commitments took over.
Photography reignited it’s relationship a decade or so ago when I was working with track (bicycle) racing, and eventually morphed from digital back to film. I still use digital when doing assignments for others, but it doesn’t hold the same interest level for me.
With my bike hiatus, I did have a few return forays, and shifted back to trials competition, but was working away too much to be able to sustain it. Down in Perth I have a 1968 Kawasaki B1L, a 1974 Enfield Bullet 500, and a Yamaha TY250N, but none of them have been ridden for 10+ years.
I am very much looking forward to reawakening my connection when I return to KL in September.
Here’s a shot on a family bike excursion in 1988 in Lampang, with my soon-to-be wife and 2 nieces (who now both have families of their own)...

B014 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

 

[DavidFL]

Gday & welcome to GTR..
Fantastic to have another 1st class photographer on board.

For photographers on GTR
Jurgen Chopard is the master GTR photographer.
Jurgen
Wimpy down Lampang way is still into black & white film & processing his own images
wimpy

Looking forward to more of your images & exploits.

 

[Jurgen]

Hello Eoin, welcome to the GTR family and kind regards from Spain ... on my way back to Thailand soon .
As David wrote we are happy and proud to have a great photographer as contributor ... I appreciate your commitment du 4x5 ( I used a Sinar 50 years ago) ... maybe bulky on a bike but certainly worth it... as your pictures shows.
I hope that we will have opportunities to meet around North Thailand ... evens so I am no longer riding a bike since 2 years, I still travel around the region by car ... maybe also to Laos.
Have a good trip back to KL and see you soon.

Jurgen

 

[Eoin Christie]

Thanks, David and Jurgen. I also do my own B&W and C41 processing - Helps to keep me (relatively) sane. One of my daughters is a track cyclist (on NZ National team, having departed Australia), so I do a fair bit of digital photography for major race events, but my real love is film
I’m currently in Cabinda in Angola, starting up an operation, and heading back down to Luanda at the end of the week. I’m like a kid waiting on Xmas for when I pick up my bike back in KL and head North.
My wife is from just North of Lampang, and we have a house (seldom used) in near the city.
I actually joined GTR many years ago, but doubt if I contributed much - I hope I can rectify that, being older and (slightly) less stupid.
My motorcycling started with MX back in the 1970’s (TM125 > CR125 > RM125A...), then moved to a little Enduro (PE175). That was followed by a gap, then road racing a TA125. Work kept getting in the way (along with general debauchery), until I returned to Trials on an off / on basis. My trouble (apart from a lack of talent) was that I was never in one place long enough to make a committed effort, but at least I had fun.
I had various road bikes along the way, but gradually shifted from lying on the tank to sitting up and enjoying the view.
I was expecting my return to be postponed until I retire and settle back in NZ, but (happily) my wife decided that getting a bike now in Malaysia may make me less of a grumbly old b@$tard when I do retire.
I am really interested to see how the rather impractical Interceptor, with a totally impractical pilot, handles more dubious roads, which are what really draw me. My little foray with my daughter on the grossly-overloaded XR150 reminded me of just how addictive and rewarding that challenge can be - It really did make me feel more alive than I have in years, and it was very special to be able to share that experience with my daughter:

C001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

C001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A002 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

D001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

C001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

C002 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A007 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A008 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

D003 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A005 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A006 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

C002 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

D001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

Hanoi05 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

...and a bit of Northern Vietnam colour to finish off ( I’m not sure why, but my daughter was impressed by their farming skills )

A001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

 

[Eoin Christie]

Perhaps a little Angola whilst I await wheels - Not qualifying as a trip report, but I’m claiming immunity under the Geneva Convention on New Members...

b004 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

b003 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

b005 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

b010 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

b015 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

b018 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A014 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A015 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A007 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A003 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A004 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A005 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A008 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A009 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A002 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

 

[Eoin Christie]

Hello Eoin, welcome to the GTR family and kind regards from Spain ... on my way back to Thailand soon .
As David wrote we are happy and proud to have a great photographer as contributor ... I appreciate your commitment du 4x5 ( I used a Sinar 50 years ago) ... maybe bulky on a bike but certainly worth it... as your pictures shows.
I hope that we will have opportunities to meet around North Thailand ... evens so I am no longer riding a bike since 2 years, I still travel around the region by car ... maybe also to Laos.
Have a good trip back to KL and see you soon.

Jurgen

I look forward to meeting you in the not too distant future, Jurgen. Sinars are very impressive cameras. I’ll bet that you have fond memories of it.
I’m using a Shen Hao for my excursions, which is well built, and quite robust. Unfortunately, my favourite travel lens (a little Fujinar 135) has its aperture diaphragm pin snap off, so is currently glued. I’m not sure how long that will last, but if it breaks off again, I’ll glue the diaphragm open so the lens can still be used.

B005 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

B006 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

B001 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

B004 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

 

[Eoin Christie]

Still claiming that New Member immunity, here are some 4x5 snaps of Phnom Penh from earlier this year. Need big pockets to make this a pocket camera...

A012 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A011 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

A008 by Eoin Christie, on Flickr

 

[Jurgen]

Thank you Eoin and regards from Switzerland... last day before returning to Thailand. I appreciate your large format pictures as I am still nostalgic from the film years, from time to time I put a roll in a Hassy or Leica but digital convenience has taken over . I have a small collection of boxes ... They are on Facebook.

As I am also on Flickr I will connect you over there.

Take care and see you soon somewhere with our biker friends.

Jurgen

 

[Eoin Christie]

Hi, Jurgen.
I also have Hasselblad's (503CXi, and a SWC - probably my favourite camera), along with Leica's (M6 and M246). I use digital for sports shoots (mainly Canon 1DX), and some charity work that I do, but my heart is firmly in film.
I hope you have a good return to Thailand, and that you manage to squeeze the occasional roll of film into your life.
Cheers,
Eoin